Transfer elevator assembly with latch means



July 29, 1969 T. JONES ET AL TRANSFER ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCH MEANS3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1967 INVENTORS.

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A TTOEA/(fy July 29, 1969 T. 1.. JONES ET AL TRANSFER ELEVATOR ASSEMBLYWITH LATCH MEANS Filed Dec. 4. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. L J0/1/65 m 1 4 02 JOHA/ m rue/v62, J6 6. a?

A TTOEA/EV July 29, 1969 T. L JONES ET AL TRANSFER ELEVATOR ASSEMBLYWITH LATCH MEANS Filed Dec. 4, 1967 5 Sheets$heet 5 JO/M/ W UnitedStates Patent O 3,458,230 TRANSFER ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCH MEANSTaylor L. Jones and John W. Turner, Jr., Houston, Tex., assignors toByron Jackson Inc., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Delaware FiledDec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,811 Int. Cl. B66c 1/10; B25b US. Cl. 294-90 8Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention has to do with elevators, primarily intended for the transferof a section or stand of pipe for oil wells and the like. It is thecurrent practice to use a slip or other type of elevator attached to atravelling block to withdraw pipe from a borehole, or to lower pipe intoa borehole, and usually the pipe is worked in either individual lengthsor in lengths of three, which are termed stands. As the pipe iswithdrawn from the hole, usually every third section is grasped by atong and unthreaded from the pipe still in the borehole, which latter issupported by a spider or other means, leaving the collar intact with thepipe still in the borehole. When the stand has been withdrawn by theprimary elevator, it is grasped by the spider and the tong forunthreading. The regular elevator then starts its downward movement fromthe upper position and the transfer elevator is placed around the pipewhile it is being unthreaded and while theregular elevator is moving tothe stand still in the borehole. As soon as the regular elevator reachesthe bottom area of the stand being unthreaded, the transfer elevatorpicks up the stand and transfers it to the racking means. The sequenceof operations in running pipe into the hole is generally reversed; thestand being picked up by the transfer elevator and aligned with theregular elevator, then lowered through the regular elevator onto the topof the pipe already in the borehole so that the tong (which may be overthe pipe in the borehole or may be placed on the transferred pipe fromthe side) may start the threading operation attaching the two endstogether while the regular elevator moves up the transferred pipetowards the end. The transfer elevator is then removed from the upperportion of the transferred stand and the latter is picked up by theregular elevator for lowering into the hole. It is essential, therefore,to have a transfer elevator which is easy to operate by the derrick man,preferably by manipulation of one hand only.

Field of the invention The invention is generally in the field ofelevators for transferring segments or stands of pipe for wells, such asoil wells and the like, and is intended primarily for use with oil wellpipe.

The applicants primarily disclose a transfer elevator for either collaror upset pipe with an improved latch for closing the elevator bodyopening or gate, and a releasable ice.

latch lock holding the latch in closed position but releasable to unlockthe latch and operable to retract the latch from the closed position toallow pipe to enter the elevator body opening. Also, applicants disclosea supporting means for the pipe in the opening for which other means maybe readily substituted to make the elevator available for more universalapplication, thus eliminating the need for a number of elevators foraccommodating various sizes of pipe. As referred to herein, thediscloseure will be primarily with respect to working pipe, but it isnot intended thereby to eliminate the possibility of working otherobjects of proper configuration.

Description of the prior art A great many varieties of elevators havebeen used for lifting and supporting pipe or the like. For example, someof the prior art devices may be found in Lundeen, US. Patent No.2,144,072, Smith, US. Patent No. 2,164,843; Patin, US. Patent No.2,183,582; Mullinix, US. Patent No. 2,215,649; Wilson US. Patent No.2,281,128; Ramey, US. Patent No. 2,375,584, Tamny, US. Patent No.3,055,698, and many other patents. None of these patents above cited orany others known to the applicants are free of objectionable features ordisclose the improved features and operation of applicants device.

SUMMARY It is an object to provide a transfer elevator which isrelatively simple and inexpensive, and which is easily operated by onehand of the operator, leaving the other hand free.

Another object is to provide an elevator of the class described whichhas an opening therein sufiiciently large to accommodate the largestsize pipe to be worked therewith, but which has a replaceable supportplate with pipe opening of suitable size to work the desired size ofpipe, the elevator being adjusted to diiferent size pipe by substitutingsupport plates with different size openings.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an elevatorwith a simple blade type latch adapted to close the opening of theelevator automatically, but which latch may be easily withdrawn topermit the entry or exit of pipe being worked, the latch operating toretain such pipe securely within the elevator during the transferoperation.

-It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch lockwhich locks the latch in its closed position, but which may be readilyreleased by a hand-grip actuated by the operator.

In this connection, it is an object to provide a latch lock which formsthe means of retracting the latch from the elevator opening.

It is an object to provide an improved latch which extends across theelevator opening when in closed position a sufficient distance only tohold the pipe securely therein but which is short enough to be easilywithdrawn from the opening so that it does not interfere with the entryand exit of the pipe when the elevator is being placed on the pipe orremoved from the pipe by the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch operated bya relatively heavy spring means urging it into closed position, and alatch lock operated by a relatively light spring means urging it intolocking position; whereby the latch lock may be released with a minimumof effort and the latch may be withdrawn or opened by a somewhat greatereffort, but in a way which will not be unduly burdensome to theoperator.

Other objects will become evident as the invention is described in thefollowing detailed description along with the accompanying drawings.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe transfer elevator forming the subject matter of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, showing thepipe-receiving opening with the latch in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows and indicating, in broken lines, a pipe latchedin position in said elevator;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, portions of the view being in cross-section andthe latch being locked in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially cross-sectioned, view showing thelatch lock mechanism of FIG. 4 in released position, with the latchmechanism still in its closed position but conditioned for movement toopen the elevator;

FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 4, but showing the latchwithdrawn from its pipe-holding position, the view being partlyfragmentary and located nearer the base or bottom of the elevator bodythan FIG. 4, to indicate the sidewall slot through which the latch movesinto and out of pipe-retaining and releasing positions. This view ispartially in cross-section;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG.4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational cross-sectional view, taken on the line8-8 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG.8, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a support plate adaptedto use with a smaller size pipe than that indicated in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more in detail to thestructure shown in the various figures and referring first, primarily,to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is here shown a transfer elevator 11, havinga support pipe or hanger 12 which is provided with a bail 13 to which aline or hook (not shown) may be attached to support the assembly. Thishanger 12 preferably is angled toward the forward portion of theelevator so that the support will be approximately over the center lineof the elevator opening (hereinafter described), whereby the elevatorwill remain properly aligned and in balance regardless of the load beinghandled by the elevator.

Attached by any convenient means, such as welding or the like, to thehanger 12 is an elevator body 14, one side (herein sometimes referred toas the front) of which is open or U-shaped to accommodate a pipe or thelike to be transferred. A front view of this opening is seen at 15 andreference may be had to FIG. 4, for example, for a disclosure of apreferred shape of the opening when viewed from above the elevator.

The body 14 is provided with spaced outwardly extending side-wallportions 16 and 17, defining the sides of the opening 15 therebetween;and the back 18 of the opening 15 is preferably rounded to accommodatethe circumference of a pipe therein. It may be noted for purposes ofdescription, that the opening 15 formed by the side-walls 16, 17 andback 18, may be generally described as of a horizontal U-shape, althoughit is conceivable that it could have an angular conformation such as,partly hexagonal.

As viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening 15 is shown as containing a pipe19 having a collar 21, which pipe and collar are shown in broken linesfor illustrative purposes only.

The bQ y .4 ha p eferab y as an n g l Pa t t e e- 4 of (see FIGS. '1 and4, for example), a handle or handgrip 22 at the rear of the body, whichhandle or handgrip may be cast or otherwise formed integrally with, orattached to, the body.

As will be clear from FIG. 1, in particular, and also FIG. 7, the body14 at its rear has a rearwardly extending upper body flange 23 and arearwardly extending lower body flange 24, with space therebetween tohouse the latch and latch lock mechanisms to be hereinafter described.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7, and particularly to FIG. 7, theside-walls 16 and 17 and back 18 are provided with downwardly andoutwardly extending recesses 28-=on their upper internal edges, whichmay terminate short of the outer or front ends of said side-walls. Ahearing plate or support plate 25 which is of generally horizontalU-shape having an opening on one side to accommodate a pipe, is attachedto the top of the elevator body by any convenient means, such as screws26, and extends inwardly from the side-walls 16, 17 and back 18 over theopening 15 at least a short distance to partially close the verticalpassage through the opening 15. The U-shaped opening of the supportplate corresponds generally to the configuration of the opening 15, butthe support plate opening is of a size and shape to allow a pipe to beinserted therein with the pipe collar resting on the sides of theopening, or if an upset pipe not having a collar is being worked, toreceive and hold the upset in said opening. For the latter purpose, theopening in the support plate may be tapered to prevent damage to thepipe. Preferably the support plate has a downwardly depending flange 27adapted to seat in the recesses 28, thus increasing the strength of thesupport plate and giving added protection to the side-walls and back ofthe body 14.

Pipe having a tapered joint, generally referred to as an upset, is acommonly used pipe in the oil industry as is collared pipe, and with thearrangement just above described the universal application of theelevator herein disclosed is enhanced.

Further, and referring to FIG. 10, support plates adapted to workdifferent sizes of pipe may be readily substituted. It is noted in FIG.10 that support plate 29 has a much smaller pipe-receiving opening thanthat illustrated in the device of FIG. 3. The support plate 29 may besubstituted for the support plate 25 for smaller pipe, and pipe of othersizes may similarly have other support plates substituted therefor, theprincipal limitation being the size of the opening 15 of the body.

As will be noted at 31 in FIG. 2, and 32 in FIGJJIO, the open front sideof the support plates 25 and 29, respectively, are preferably providedwith guide surfaces slanting inwardly toward the pipe-receiving bearingsurfaces to enable the operator to insert the elevator on a pipe rapidlyand without delay for aligning the elevator and pipe. As is obvious fromthe drawings, the outer ends of the side-walls 16 and 17 may likewise betapered to lead into the opening.

Referring next to the retractable latch mechanism and the latch lockmechanism, and referring primarily to FIGS. 4 thru 9, the upper bodyflange 23 and lower body flange 24 are drilled, as is evident from FIG.7, to receive the latch pin 33 which forms a journal for a latch 34. Thelatch 34 is preferably hook-shaped and is mounted, as best evident fromFIG. 7, to swing about the latch pin 33. The side-wall 17 of the body 14is slotted, as indicated best in FIGS. 1 and 6, providing the slot 35through which the outer end of the hook-shaped latch 34 enters theopening 15. The latch 34 is free to move into the opening, as shown inFIG. 4, (see also FIG. 2), and preferably extends far enough across theouter end of said opening to form a barrier against displacement of pipein said opening, thus holding pipe in position on the support plate whenthe latch is closed; that is, across said opening as shown in FIG, 4.Preferably this latch extends only far enough across the opening tosecurely retain the pipe positioned, but terminates short of theside-wall 16. The reason for this is that when the latch is withdrawnfrom the opening, as shown in FIG. 6, the movement of the latch asufficient distance to clear the opening is not excessive. Since, aswill be later explained, the with drawal is accomplished by a grippingof handle means by the operator, a longer latch would put an excessivestrain on the operator and also there would be a tendency to leave thelatch partially within the opening, resulting in possible damage to thelatch and difliculty in placing the elevator around the pipe to beworked.

Referring primarily to FIG. 7, the latch is provided with an upstandingintegral rear flange portion 36 which in turn has a forwardly extendingupper flange 37. The latch pin 33 extends through the flange 37 and thebase portion of the latch 34 to form the mounting means for the latch34; the flange 37 being spaced from the base of the latch 34, as isevident from FIG. 7.

Means here shown as a latch spring 38 mounted on the latch pin 33 andhaving its ends bearing against the elevator body 14 and the rear flange36 respectively, is mounted on the pin 33 and urges the latch 34 intothe closed position shown in FIG. 4.

The rear flange 36 is provided with spaced lower and upper rearwardlyextending cars 39 and 41 which extend generally rearwardly at, forexample, an angle of 37 to the centerline of the elevator, past the rearof the body flanges 23 and 24. The ears 39 and 41 are drilled orotherwise perforated to receive a latch lock pin 42 which extendsvertically therethrough and is held in place by a spiral pin 43.Journaled on the pin 42 is a latch lock assembly comprising a generallycrescent-shaped latch lock 44 which has formed, preferably integraltherewith, a hand-grip 45, as will be apparent from FIG. 7, for example.The latch lock 44 may be swung in a rotary motion about the pin 42 bymanipulation of the handle 45. A latch lock spring 46, or otherconvenient means for biasing the latch lock in a directioncounter-clockwise as viewed from the top, is here disclosed as a spiralspring, one end of which (see FIG. 6) rests against rear latch flangepor tion 36, and the other end of which bears against a depending,slightly oflset integral web portion between the inner ends of thehandle 45 and the latch lock 44.

As indicated above, the latch lock may be described as generallycrescent-shaped, having a hook portion 48 on its righthand end, asviewed for example in FIGS. 4 and 6, adapted to latch around a drive pin49 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 in particular), which drive pin 49 is mounted inand extends below the upper body flange 23 of the elevator. The latchlock has a shoulder or stop 51, herein termed first stop 51, which seatsagainst a shoulder 52 on the flange 37 of the latch 34 and positions thelatch lock when in its closed position with a locking action. Thus, solong as the latch lock hook 48 remains engaged with the drive pin 49,the latch is in its normal closed position and will retain a pipe in theopening 15.

At its other end, the latch lock 44 has a second stop 53 which, when thelatch lock is rotated counter-clockwise, for example, 20 by movement ofthe handle 45 clockwise toward closing relation with the handle 22,engages the flange 37. This engagement takes place before the handle 45has been moved toward the handle 22 more than just enough to clear thelatch lock hook 48 from the pin 49, and is the position illustrated inFIG. 5. The movement from the closed position to the position ofengagement of the stop 53 with the flange 37, as shown in FIG. 5, thusreleasing the pin, requires only suflicient gripping effort by theoperator to overcome the relatively light pressure of the latch lockspring 46. Further movement of the handle 45 toward the handle 22 to theposition shown in FIG. 6 causes the gripping force to be transmittedthrough the latch lock pin 42 with the stop 53 holding the latch lockfixed with respect to the ears 39 and 41 of the latch 34, and pivots thelatch 34 about the pin 33 against the relativley heavy pressure of thelatch spring 38. This, in turn, withdraws the latch through the slot 35,clearing the elevator opening 15 and allowing the elevator to receive apipe or to be removed from a pipe. Release of the handle 45 will causethe latch 34 to swing, under pressure of the latch spring 38, back intoa closing position, and will cause the latch lock hook 48 to move aroundthe drive pin 49, thus locking the latch 34 in its closed position. Thelatch 34 is locked to the body 14 by the latch lock 44 when the latchlock hook 48 engages the drive pin 49.

It is noted that the latch pin 33 is held in position in the elevator byany convenient means such, for example, as the spiral pin 54 (see FIGS.7 and 8).

Operation In operation, the elevator 11 is usually suspended by thehanger 12 in position to be placed on a pipe to be transferred orotherwise worked. The operator usually grasps the hand-grip 22 andhandle 45 in one hand and squeezes them together. This will rotate thehandle 45 clockwise about the latch lock pin 42 toward the handgrip 22.

The primary movement of the handle 45 will be against the resistance ofthe relatively weak latch lock spring 46, requiring very little grippingpressure and placing no strain on the hand of the operator, willdisengage the hook portion 48 of the latch lock 44 from the drive pin49, and will rotate the latch lock 44 (which is integral with the handle45) about the latch lock pin 42 mounted on the ears 39 and 41 of thelatch, causing the stop 53 to move against the latch flange 37 lockingup the latch lock 44, handle 45 and latch 34, and preventing furthermovement or rotation of the latch lock 44 and handle 45 about the latchlock pin 42. This movement, in the example shown, is about 20.

Further gripping action moving the handle 45 clockwise toward thehand-grip 22, causes the locked-up handle 45, latch lock 44, and latch34 to pivot about the latch pin 33, against the heavier latch spring 38,and will withdraw the hook portion of the latch 34 from across theopening 15 of the elevator, thus clearing the opening 15 for entry ofpipe (or, if pipe is already in said opening, clearing the egresstherefrom of such pipe). It is noted that the shorter the latch hookportion, the less the arc traversed by the handle 45 before the latch isclear of the opening 15, and thus the less strain on the hand of theoperator using the device. The latch hook portion need only extend asufficient distance across the opening 15 to prevent displacement of thepipe.

The operator, to grasp the pipe, then places the elevator around a pipe,beneath the collar or upset, and releases the handle 45. The latch 34,under the influence of the heavy latch spring 38, will then pivot aboutthe latch pin 33 and the hook portion will move back through the slot 35and across the opening 15, thus closing the opening and blocking lateralmovement of pipe through the opening. When this has occurred the latchlock 44, under the influence of the latch lock spring 46 will pivotabout the latch lock pin 42 and cause the hook portion 48 of the latchlock to seat around the drive pin 49, holding the latch (by holding theears 39 and 41 thereof) against pivoting about the latch pin 33. Thiseffectively locks the latch and holds the pipe, the collar or upset ofwhich is seated on the support plate 25 (or other support plate such as29, as the case may be).

Should the operator desire to work a different size of pipe, he mayreadily substitute the proper size of support plate for the supportplate 25. This eliminates the necessity of having a different size ofelevator for each different size of pipe to be handled.

It is thus seen that only one hand of the operator is needed to operatethe elevator, and the simplicity of the device and its operation areclearly apparent.

While the specific details of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, changes and alternations may be resorted to Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a transfer elevator or the like having an elevator body (14) witha front opening (15) for the receipt of pipe (19, 21) to be handled bythe elevator, and means such as a hanger (12) for support of saidelevator, said elevator body also having a hand grip (22) by which theelevator may be manipulated by the user, those means comprising:

(a) a latch (34) mounted for pivotal movement into and out of saidopening (15) and having means (38) urging it into said opening wherebysaid opening is closed to the entry and exit of pipe laterally from saidelevator;

(b) means comprising a latch lock (44) pivotally mounted on said latch(34) and having an integral handle means (45) to pivot first said latchlock (44), and then said latch (34), said latch lock having a hookedportion (48) and (c) means (49) on said elevator body (14) positionedfor engagement by said latch lock hook portion (48) to lock said latchlock (44) against movement under influence of forces on said latch (34)and lock the latter when said latch (34) is in its normal closedposition blocking said opening (15).

2. In a transfer elevator or the like having an elevator body (14) witha front opening (15) for the receipt of pipe (19, 21) to be handled bythe elevator, and means such as a hanger (12) for support of saidelevator, said elevator body also having a hand grip (22) by which theelevator may be manipulated by the user, those means comprising:

(a) a latch (34) mounted for pivotal movement into and out of saidopening (15) whereby said opening is closed to the entry and exit ofpipe laterally from said elevator;

(b) means comprising a latch lock (44) pivotally mounted on said latch(34) and having an integral handle means (45) to pivot said latch lock(44), said latch lock having a hooked portion (48);

(c) means (49) on said elevator body (14) positioned for engagement bysaid latch lock hook portion (48) to lock said latch lock (44) againstmovement under influence of forces on said latch (34) and lock thelatter when said latch (34) is in its normal closed position blockingsaid opening (15); and

(d) said latch having a hook-shaped blade portion and a latch pin onwhich said latch is mounted for pivotal movement, and wherein said latchhas generally rearwardly extending means comprising ears through which alatch lock pin extends on which is pivotally mounted said latch lock andintegral handle means, the arrangement being such that pivoting of saidhandle means rotates said latch lock out of engagement with said means(49) on said elevator body and continued movement of said handle meanspivots said latch means about said latch pin (33).

3. An elevator latch and latch lock means as set forth in claim 2,wherein said latch means has means comprising a spring (38)'urging saidlatch to its normal closed position, and wherein said latch lock pin(42) has a spring urging said latch lock hooked portion (48) intolocking engagement with said means (49) on said elevator body (14), saidlatch lock spring means (46) being of lesser strength than said latchspring means (38), the arrangement being such that pivoting said latchlock by pivotal movement of said handle (45) first disengages said latchlock from said elevator body and then moves said latch to its openposition.

4. In a transfer elevator or the like, an elevator body having a frontopening defined by forwardly extending sidewalls for the reception ofpipe laterally therein and extending vertically therethrough, means suchas a hanger for the support of said elevator, a pipe support plateremovably mounted over said opening and adapted to receive and supportpipe by the upset or collar thereof, but open at the front for theingress and egress of such pipe;

a slot in one side of said elevator body;

a pivoted hook-shaped latch having an upstanding integral rear flangeportion with a forwardly extending upper flange, said latch beingadapted to swing through said slot to close said elevator;

a latch pin mounted in said elevator on which said latch is pivoted andhaving a latch spring urging said latch through said slot to close thefront opening of said elevator;

means comprising ears integral with said latch and positioned generallyon the opposite side of said latch pin from the portion of said latchmoving into and out of said slot;

latch lock pin means mounted on said ears;

a latch lock and integral handle pivotally mounted on said latch lockpin, said latch lock having at one end thereof a hook means and at theother end thereof a stop means;

a spring means of less strength than said latch spring means urging saidlatch lock and handle into locking position;

a drive pin on said elevator body positioned to be engaged by said latchlock hook;

the arrangement being such that movement of the latch lock handle in aclockwise direction rotates the latch lock disengaging the latch lockhook from said latch lock pin, and moving said stop means against saidforwardly extending upper flange of said latch means, and furthermovement of said latch lock handle pivots said latch about said latchpin withdrawing said latch from its position closing the opening in saidelevator body.

5. A transfer elevator or the like comprising in com bination:

(a) an elevator body with support means therefor and having an openingin the front thereof for the receipt of pipe;

(b) means comprising a hand grip on the rear of said body formanipulation of said elevator;

(c) a latch operable to open and close said opening and having ahook-shaped blade portion and integral rearwardly extending ear means,said latch being mounted for pivotal movement in said body by mountingmeans between said blade portion and ear means;

(d) a latch lock and integral handle means pivotally mounted on said earmeans, said handle means being at the rear of said elevator body andpositioned in close proximity to said hand grip, whereby said hand gripand said handle means may be gripped simultaneously by a hand of theoperator; and

(e) means on said body adapted for engagement by said latch lock toretain said latch lock and thus said latch in position closing saidopening, the arrangement being such that pivoting said handle meansfirst releases said latch lock and continued pivoting of said handlemeans withdraws said latch from said opening allowing the ingress andegress of pipe with respect to said opening.

6. A transfer elevator or the like comprising in combination:

(a) an elevator body with support means therefor and having an openingfor the receipt of pipe;

(b) means comprising a hand grip on the rear of said body formanipulation of said elevator;

(c) a latch operable to open and close said opening and having ahook-shaped blade portion and integral rearwardly extending ear means,said latch being mounted for pivotal movement in said body by mountingmeans between said blade portion and ear means and said latch havingmeans urging it to the position clos- (e) means on said body adapted forengagement by said ing said opening; latch lock to retain said latchlock and thus said latch (d) a latch lock and integral handle meanspivotally in position closing said opening, the arrangement mounted onsaid ear means, said handle means being being such that pivoting saidhandle means first reat the rear of said elevator body and positioned inleases said latch lock and continued pivoting of said close proximity tosaid hand grip, whereby said hand handle means withdraws said latch fromsaid opengrip and said handle means may be gripped simuling allowing theingress and egress of pipe with respect taneously by a hand of theoperator; and to said opening, said latch lock having means urging (e)means on said body adapted for engagement by it into latched positionwith said body means to retain said latch lock to retain said latch lockand thus said said latch in body opening and closing positions to latchin position closing said opening, the arrangeprevent ingress and egressof pipe from said body ment being such that pivoting said handle meansfirst opening; and

releases said latch lock and continued pivoting of (f) a support platereadily replaceable for different sizes said handle means withdraws saidlatch from said and types of pipe to be handled, attached to saidopening allowing the ingress and egress of pipe with body With itsopening aligned with the opening of respect to said opening, said latchlock having means said body.

urging it into latched position with said body means 8. A transferelevator or the like comprising:

to retain said latch in body opening and closing posiy having pp r meansand an opening for tions to prevent ingress and egress of pipe from saidlateral ingress and egress of pipe;

body opening. (b) latch means biased to a position closing said open- 7.A transfer elevator or the like comprising in comg and retractable to pSaid p g;

bin tion; (c) latch lock means biased to lock said latch means (a) anelevator body with support means therefor and n a P n Cl sing saidopening; and

having an opening for the receipt of pipe; ((1) means operable first torelease said latch lock means (b) means comprising a hand grip on therear of aid and then retract said latch means from said opening,

body for manipulation of said elevator; said releasing and retractingmeans being operable (c) a latch operable to open and close said openingand from the rear Said yhaving a hook-shaped blade portion and integralrearwardly extending ear means, said latch being mounted ReferencesCited for pivotal movement in said body by mounting 3O U I STATESPATENTS an b tween said bl s aid lite; having meari s l ir girig ii tgigj223132 55: 1646981 10/1927 Rlck 294 102 2,375,584 5/1945 Ramey 294-90mg said opening, 2,957,724 10/1960 Bujold 294-1 2 (d) a latch lock andIntegral handle means pivotally 3,287,776 11/1966 Brown 294 9O mountedon sand ear means, said handle means being 3,309,130 3/1967 Arrowood 29490 at the rear of said elevator body and positioned in close proximityto said hand grip, whereby said hand ANDRES H NIELSEN, P i Exami gripand said handle means may be gripped simultaneously by a hand of theoperator;

